Kansas Environmental Education Conference
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Register Today for the 2013
Kansas Green Schools & Environmental Education Conference
Connecting Community Through Environmental Education July 25-27, 2013 at the Meridian Center in Newton, KS
The Kansas Environmental Education Conference (14th Annual) and the Kansas Green Schools Conference (5th Annual) are joining forces this year to offer you the very best in conservation and environmental education professional development, networking, and exploring the outdoors. Our conference committee is working hard to put together an engaging, inspiring, fun and educational experience for both school-based (PreK-12 Preservice and inservice teachers, administrators, school staff and parents) and non-formal/community-based (zoos, parks, museums, natural resource agencies, offices of sustainability, out-of-school-time programs, scouts, etc.) educators alike, with an emphasis on finding new ways to work together.
Because each conference participant has unique professional development needs, we will offer "a la carte" registration, allowing you to build the conference experience that will make the most of your professional development time and dime.
Click here to register online, or scroll to the bottom of this page to download, print and mail/fax a paper registration form.
Tentative Conference Schedule of Events:
Thursday, July 25
Target Audience: PreK-12 Preservice and inservice teachers, administrators, school staff and parents
Pre-Conference Workshop: Growing Communities Together Through Environmental Education
Discover innovative ways to re-imagine schools as a tool for growing and cultivating healthy, active, and school-engaged communities. Learn how to jump-start the community and school partnerships in your area. By engaging the community around your school to take an active role in partnering with and supporting school efforts you will find several great opportunities for partnerships that will be beneficial to all. Throughout this hands-on workshop you will gain the tools and resources necessary to engage your community and connect these efforts to your curriculum by participating in several environmental education activities from Project Learning Tree, PLT Secondary Modules Introductory Guide, and PLT Places we Live. We will also explore activities from two environmental education initiatives The Kansas Green Schools Investigations and the Kansas School Gardens Curriculum. By combining activities from these resources you will learn how to foster the relationships between your communities and schools and create an exciting new model for partnership!
Workshop participants will receive Project Learning Tree K-8 (for K-8 educators) or PLT Places We Live & PLT Secondary Module Introductory Guide (for secondary educators), instruction in using online curriculum from the Kansas School Gardens and Kansas Green Schools websites, lunch, and the option of one hour of graduate credit (additional $70 fee payable at the workshop) through Baker University if attending the Pre-Conference Workshop and at least one day of the Kansas Green Schools and Environmental Education Conference.
Cost: $45
Location: Walton Rural Life Center – Newton, Kansas
Group outing for dinner in Newton, followed by hospitality suite at the conference hotel.
Friday, July 26
Target Audience: PreK-12 Preservice and inservice teachers, administrators, school staff and parents
Opening Keynote
Community Classroom Concurrent Sessions (off-site, choose one of the following 3 options)
Walton Rural Life Center
Walton Rural Life Center, part of the Newton USD373 district is a K-4 charter school with a novel curriculum of hands-on learning that is entirely focused on agriculture. One of only two such elementary schools in the country, Walton scores in the top 5 percent on the state’s standardized achievement tests; it has been celebrated by the U.S. Department of Education; and educators come from across the country to learn its secrets. Come explore how project-based learning has spelled success for this elementary school. We will tie the Kansas Green Schools of Excellence Program into our community experience while incorporating some of the green school investigations that you can incorporate into your own school site!
Dyck Arboretum of the Plains
Travel to the Dyck Arboretum of the Plains in Hesston, KS to immerse yourself in all the prairie has to offer. We will be welcomed by Arboretum staff, learn about their unique school partnerships and education programs, and enjoy a brief tour of the grounds, featuring native wildflowers in bloom, prairie grasses, trees and wetlands. This diverse landscape will serve as our outdoor classroom as we engage in a variety of hands-on, minds-on activities to learn about prairie flora & fauna, habitats, and restoration. These educational activities will cover multiple age levels and subject areas, including take away components and ways to adapt them to your classroom and community.
Growing Community Connections through Gardening
Explore how communities can become inviting, healthy, fun, and accessible places to play and learn in the outdoors. As part of the community, schools can take an active role in building relationships and partnerships that help to promote healthy, outdoor learning environments. One fantastic example of school and community partnership is gardening. We will stop at two area gardens where local gardeners will showcase their community garden projects, and we will participate in fun, hands-on activities from the Kansas School Gardens Initiative that you can use to engage students in your classroom in gardening!
Green Schools Concurrent Sessions (on-site)
This year's concurrent sessions will be organized around the theme of school/community connections, collaborations and partnerships. Topics may include: community gardens, service learning, green school community partners, citizen science, STEM, career connections, and more!
Roundtable Discussion Sessions
Target Audience: Both PreK-12 Preservice and inservice teachers, administrators, school staff and parents AND non-formal/community-based educators
These facilitated discussions will provide an opportunity for both community-based and school-based educators to discuss important topics, identify new resources, and strengthen collaborations. Topics may include: school gardens; community resources for career & tech ed; community as classroom; student leadership; and green schools for early childhood.
Dinner on the Patio and On the Spot Photo Contest at Dyck Arboretum of the Plains , followed by hospitality suite at the conference hotel
Saturday, July 27
A Taste of EE:
Target Audience: Both PreK-12 Preservice and inservice teachers, administrators, school staff and parents AND non-formal/community-based educators
Don't miss out on this year's Taste of EE session! Experience innovative ideas, activities and resources from experienced environmental educators and green schools that you can take home and use right away. During the session you will have the opportunity to stop at several different stations where you will enjoy hands-on/minds-on EE activities while learning the tips and tricks of using them from Kansas educators who know them best.
Kansas Green Schools Leadership Seminar
Target Audience: PreK-12 Preservice and inservice teachers, administrators, school staff and parents
This skill-building session will help all involved with Kansas Green Schools to take your programs to the next level of excellence. Topics may include: Grant writing/fund raising; marketing and communication; getting buy-in with other teachers and administrators; building functional teams; strategies for meaningful student engagement; connecting green schools to CC and NGSS; engaging community; getting recognition and making the most of it (KGS Certification); and more!
Concurrent Sessions
Target Audience: Non-formal/community-based educators
This year's concurrent sessions will be organized around the theme of organizational/leadership development & strategic innovation. Topics may include: Understanding diverse interaction styles; appreciative inquiry; diversity, inclusiveness, and cultural competency; program/project evaluation, and more!
Roundtable/Affinity Group Discussion Sessions
Target Audience: Non-formal/community-based educators
These facilitated discussions will provide an opportunity for non-formal educators to discuss important topics, identify new resources, and strengthen collaborations. Topics may include: Connecting with & staying relevant with schools; environmental justice/assessing community needs; role of nonformal educators in Kansans for Children & Nature (KCN) plan; nontraditional partners for EE; and more!
Lunch and Keynote Address
Target Audience: Both PreK-12 Preservice and inservice teachers, administrators, school staff and parents AND non-formal/community-based educators
Organizational Development Workshops
Target Audience: Non-formal/community-based educators
These skill-building sessions will help non-formal/community-based environmental education organizations to take your programs to the next level of excellence. Topics may include: Communication & marketing; databases/management/tools for efficiency in organizations; organizational development; team building; strategic planning; budgeting & fund development; policy development; running safe and secure programs, and more!
Lodging Information
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Holiday Inn Express Newton across the parking lot of the Meridian Center. A discounted rate of $77 for single or double room is available through July 12, 2013. Please contact the hotel directly to make reservations (316-804-7040) – be sure to tell them you are attending the KACEE Conference to get your discount. Holiday Inn Express Newton, 1430 E. Broadway Ct., Newton, Kansas 67114, 316-804-7040.
